Steven Patrick Morrissey (born 22 May 1959), known primarily as Morrissey, is a British singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. After the band's breakup in 1987, Morrissey began a solo career, continuing the indie pop sound of The Smiths and making the Top 10 singles chart in the United Kingdom on ten occasions.